File card, or the like

ABSTRACT

A file card in which certain identifying entries are to appear in filed condition of the card at an angle with regard to the top edge of the filed card, while permitting the entry of all entries on the card along horizontal lines. To this end the file card has a foldable corner portion with a first folding line having one point in common with the said top edge and extending at an angle thereto, while a second folding line longer than said first folding line has approximately the same point in common with said upper edge as said first folding line whereby said foldable corner portion has one section foldable in one direction about said second folding line in one direction toward the non-foldable part of the file card and has a second section foldable about said first folding line in the opposite direction.

United States Patent [1 1 Costard [451 July 17,1973

[ FILE CARD, OR THE LIKE [75] Inventor: Herbert Costard, Garbsen, Germany {73] Assignee: Edler & Krische, Hanover, Germany [22] Filed: June 3, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 149,720

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 4, 1970 Germany P 20 27 397.6

[52] US. Cl. 40/360 [51] Int. Cl B42f 21/02 [58] Field of Search 281/1; 283/62; 40/359, 360; 46/1 L [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,506,461 5/1950 Leach 40/l24.1 2,582,729 1/1952 Wassell 40/360 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 961,704 6/1964 Great Britain 40/359 895,145 3/1944 France 40/360 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Murray, William D. and Francis J. Rigney Paper Folding for Beginners pp. 64-66.

Primary ExaminerRobert W. Michell Attorney-Walter Becker [57] ABSTRACT A file card in which certain identifying entries are to appear in filed condition of the card at an angle with regard to the top edge of the filed card, while permitting the entry of all entries on the card along horizontal lines. To this end the file card has a foldable corner portionwith a first folding line having one point in common with the said. top edge and extending at an angle thereto, while a second folding line longer than said first folding line has approximately the same point in common with said upper edge as said first folding line whereby said foldable corner portion has one section foldable in one direction about said second folding line in one direction toward the non-foldable part of the file card and has a second section foldable about said first folding line in the opposite direction.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures HANsj j PATENTEB JUL 1 7 I975 FIG.2

FIG.1

FILE CARD, OR THE LIKE The present invention relates to a file card with a field which extends at an angle with regard to the upper card edge and is intended for entering thereon indicative markings or data, for instance writings. These cards are intended in particular for staggered arrangements which comprise laterally staggered cards which in their turn within the region of one comer comprise the said field in order in this way to be able quickly and conveniently to recognize the respective marking giving an indication as to the contents of the respective card.

In order to obtain a permanent marking, such marking is typed upon the card. Since, however, this typing is to extend at an angle with respect to the remaining written information on the card, it has heretofore been necessary to type upon the card in two difi'erent steps. This requires that the card be inserted twice into the typewriter, while it may be mentioned that the typing at an angle with regard to the card edge is anyhow unusual.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention so to improve the above referred to cards that for entering the indicative marking at an angle with regard to the card edge, no special steps will be required. In other words, it is an object of the present invention so to improve the card that the indicative marking can be entered along a field which is parallel to the upper edge of the card so thatonly one operation is necessary when something has to be typed or written at the same time on the said field and on the remaining portion of the card.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial top view of the file card according to the invention ready to be typed upon.

FIG. 2 shows the card of FIG. 1 after the latter has been folded for use.

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate three successive phases of folding the left-hand upper comer of the file card and a-particularly effective method of holding the folded corner in folded condition onto the adjacent part of the file card. i

The file card according to the invention with a field extending at an angle with regard to the upper card edge is characterized primarily in that the said field forms a part of the upper portion of a card section which is foldable in a Z-shaped or S-shaped manner.

This card section which may be prepared for folding by slots, perforations, and the like, and which may be provided with printed-on lines or the like, is being inserted into the typewriter and typed upon in unfolded condition while the field to be typed upon extends parallel to the upper edge of the card. After the typing has been done, the said card section is folded twice along the prepared lines so that the typed-on field assumes an inclined position with regard to the upper card edge. After the folding operation, the folded portions may be secured in their positions by gumming or the like so that an undesired folding back of these portions will be prevented.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the file card which in customary manner may consist of cardboard, carton, synthetic material, or the like, has its lower edge provided with notches 1 which are uniformly distributed over the lower card edge and in combination with non-illustrated protrusions on the bottom of the file drawer will make possible a uniform lateral staggering of the cards.

In the region of the left-hand upper corner 2 of the card there is provided a field 3 which extends parallel .to the upper card edge 4 and is intended to receive the indicative marking for the card. The field 3 is provided near further fields 5 or the like which likewise extend parallel to the card edge 4.

The card, which in customary manner is of rectangular shape, is placed into a typewriter and typed upon, i.e., both the field 3 as well as the field 5 are typed upon in one operation. Subsequently, the left-hand upper corner of the card is folded along the two lines 6 and 7 which lines intersect at a point A located at the card edge 4. The folding operation is effected in such a way that with the card ready for filing according to FIGS. 2 and 3, field 3 forms a portion of an upper card section 9, whereas that portion of the card which is located between the lines 6 and 7 becomes an intermediate card section 10 (FIG. 3). These card sections are connected to each other and to the remaining portion of the card,

for instance, by pressing the back sides of sections 9 and lflwhich have previously been gummed against each other so that in folded condition the said sections will remain in their folded condition and an undesired unfolding will be prevented.

If line 6 forms with the card edge 4 an angle of 45 and if line 7 forms the angle bisector, the conditions shown in FIG. 2 will be obtained according to which the field 3" extends parallel to the line 6 and with the imaginary extension of the card edge 4 forms an angle a of 45. It is, of course, to be understood that the angle a need not necessarily be 45 but may also be any other convenient angle, while in most instances it will be expedient that lines 6 and 7 intersect in a point which is located on the card edge with line 7 forming the angle bisector.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 6, these figures illustrate the folding phases more specifically and also show a specific way of holding the folded part'firmly against the adjacent part of the file or index card, while it is assumed that the card had previously been typed upon, e. g., the name Mueller, Hans," and other particulars appear at 5. i

As willbe seen from FIG. 4, the index card I of which only a small portion is shown has in addition to the folding lines 6 and 7 above referred to a prepunched flap F the back side of which is designated with the letter Ba and the front side of which is designated with the letter Fr. FIG. 4 shows the first folding step according to which the flap F is folded from its solid line position shown in FIG. 4 (front side Fr being visible) into its dot-dash position so that now its back side Ba is visible.

As the next step, the upper triangular portion ABD is folded about the line AB into the position shown in FIG. 5 so that the back side of the triangle ABD is now the top side of which the area marked by shading is assumed to be gummed. Flap F is now folded back over the back side of triangular portion ABD as shown in FIG. 5 with the front side Fr of flap F facing the person viewing the drawing.

Finally, the triangular portion ACD of FIG. 5 is folded about the line AC and is firmly pressed against the triangular surface portion ABC and against flap F. As a result thereof, the position shown in FIG. 6 is obtained according to which the name Mueller, Hans is now at an angle (e. g., 45) with regard to the top edge of the index card, while flap F firmly holds the triangular portion ABC against the non-folded card portion, and while the back side of triangular portion ACD sticks to the folded back surface of triangular portion ACB as shown in FIG. 6.

Instead of maintaining the card sections 9 and 10 firmly connected to each other by gumming, or by means of an adhesive, or the like, it is, of course, also possible to maintain these sections in their folded together condition by other means. Thus, for instance, the corner at 11 (FIG. 2) may be inserted into a slot 12 in the card, or the adhesive may be applied to the card shortly before the folding operation. The adhesive may be, for instance, a rubber cement.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular showing in the drawing but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A file card having a first edge and being adapted to be filed so that said first edge forms the upper edge of said file card and is substantially horizontal, said file card also having a second edge extending at a substantially right angle to said first edge and partly defining therewith a foldable comer portion having a first folding line extending from one point of said second edge to a point on said first edge, said points on said second edge and said first edge being spaced from said first and second edges, respectively, such distances as to provide an area sufficient to receive a plurality of typed characters in a line parallel to said first edge, said foldable corner portion also having a second folding line longer than said first folding line and extending from approximately said last mentioned point on said first edge to a point on said second edge whereby said comer portion is foldable about said second folding line toward the remainder of said file card and subsequently has its outermost portion foldable about said first folding line back over the first folded portion so that any typing entered along a horizontal line in that field of the comer portion which in non-folded condition of said corner portion is defined by said first folding line and those portions of said first and second edges forming a triangle therewith will in folded condition of said corner portion appear at an acute angle with regard to said first edge.

2. A file card according to claim 1, in which said first folding line bisects the angle defined by said first edge with said second folding line into two equal angles.

3. A file card according to claim 1, in which said second folding line defines with said first and second edges a right angle triangle in which the angle defined by said second folding line and said first edge is approximately 45.

4. A file card according to claim 1, in which at least a part of the corner portion has that side thereof which in folded condition of said comer portion faces another part thereof provided with an adhesive for sticking said parts together.

5. A file card according to claim 1, in which said card has an area within the region of the folded-over foldable corner portion provided with a slot for receiving a corner of the folded-over corner portion.

6. A file card according to claim 1, in which said card is, adjacent the folded-over foldable comer portion, provided with a punched-out foldable flap adapted to be folded out of the plane of the file cardto such an extent that it will not be covered by said foldable corner portion when the latter is folded about said second folding line into contact with the remainder of said file card, said flap also being adapted to be folded between two folded-over sections of the foldable comer portion to hold the same locked to the non-foldable part of the file card.

7. A file card having a first edge and being adapted to be filed with said edge at top and to be placed in a typewriter with said first edge substantially horizontal and forming the upper edge in the typewriter, said file card also having a second edge extending at substantially a right angle to said first edge at one comer of said card and partly defining therewith a foldable corner portion having a first folding line extending from one point on said second edge to a point on said first edge, said points being spaced from said'corner such distances as to provide an area sufficient to type a plurality of characters in said area in a line parallel to said first edge, said foldable comer portion also having a second folding line longer than said first folding line extending from a point on said first edge, which is at least as far from the comer as the point of said first folding line on said first edge, to a point on said second edge spaced from said comer a greater distance than the point of said first line on said second edge and defining a second area between said folding lines, said second folding line forming a larger acute angle with said first edge than the acute angle formed by said first folding line, so that said first folding line lies between said second folding line and said corner, said folding lines being formed by lines of weakened material of said card, the back surface of the areas defined by said folding lines and said corner having adhesive thereon, so that said area defined by said first folding line and corner may be folded back on the'second area defined by said first and second folding lines and adhered thereto, said folded portion being foldable on to the front surface of the card by folding along said second folding line, and retaining means formed on said card to engage and retain said folded portion on the front surface of said card with a line of characters typed on said first area at an acute angle to said first edge.

8. A file card as claimed in claim 7, in which said folding lines are formed by a linear series of perforations in the material of the card.

i i k 1 

1. A file card having a first edge and being adapted to be filed so that said first edge forms the upper edge of said file card and is substantially horizontal, said file card also having a second edge extending at a substantially right angle to said first edge and partly defining therewith a foldable corner portion having a first folding line extending from one point of said second edge to a point on said first edge, said points on said second edge and said first edge being spaced from said first and second edges, respectively, such distances as to provide an area sufficient to receive a plurality of typed characters in a line parallel to said first edge, said foldable corner portion also having a second folding line longer than said first folding line and extending from approximately said last mentioned point on said first edge to a point on said second edge whereby said corner portion is foldable about said second folding line toward the remainder of said file card and subsequently has its outermost portion foldable about said first folding line back over the first folded portion so that any typing entered along a horizontal line in that field of the corner portion which in nonfolded condition of said corner portion is defined by said first folding line and those portions of said first and second edges forming a triangle therewith will in folded condition of said corner portion appear at an acute angle with regard to said first edge.
 2. A file card according to claim 1, in which said first folding line bisects the angle defined by said first edge with said second folding line into two equal angles.
 3. A file card according to claim 1, in which said second folding line defines with said first and second edges a right angle triangle in which the angle defined by said second folding line and said first edge is approximately 45*.
 4. A file card according to claim 1, in which at least a part of the corner portion has that side thereof which in folded condition of said corner portion faces another part thereof provided with an adhesive for sticking said parts together.
 5. A file card according to claim 1, in which said card has an area within the region of the folded-over foldable corner portion provided with a slot for receiving a corner of the folded-over corner portion.
 6. A file card according to claim 1, in which said card is, adjacent the folded-over foldable corner portion, provided with a punched-out foldable flap adapted to be folded out of the plane of the file card to such an extEnt that it will not be covered by said foldable corner portion when the latter is folded about said second folding line into contact with the remainder of said file card, said flap also being adapted to be folded between two folded-over sections of the foldable corner portion to hold the same locked to the non-foldable part of the file card.
 7. A file card having a first edge and being adapted to be filed with said edge at top and to be placed in a typewriter with said first edge substantially horizontal and forming the upper edge in the typewriter, said file card also having a second edge extending at substantially a right angle to said first edge at one corner of said card and partly defining therewith a foldable corner portion having a first folding line extending from one point on said second edge to a point on said first edge, said points being spaced from said corner such distances as to provide an area sufficient to type a plurality of characters in said area in a line parallel to said first edge, said foldable corner portion also having a second folding line longer than said first folding line extending from a point on said first edge, which is at least as far from the corner as the point of said first folding line on said first edge, to a point on said second edge spaced from said corner a greater distance than the point of said first line on said second edge and defining a second area between said folding lines, said second folding line forming a larger acute angle with said first edge than the acute angle formed by said first folding line, so that said first folding line lies between said second folding line and said corner, said folding lines being formed by lines of weakened material of said card, the back surface of the areas defined by said folding lines and said corner having adhesive thereon, so that said area defined by said first folding line and corner may be folded back on the second area defined by said first and second folding lines and adhered thereto, said folded portion being foldable on to the front surface of the card by folding along said second folding line, and retaining means formed on said card to engage and retain said folded portion on the front surface of said card with a line of characters typed on said first area at an acute angle to said first edge.
 8. A file card as claimed in claim 7, in which said folding lines are formed by a linear series of perforations in the material of the card. 